Karachi: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has partnered with Iqra University’s Center for Excellence in Islamic FinTech (IU-CEIF) to introduce a new initiative aimed at expanding women’s participation in Shariah-compliant investing. The initiative, titled Empowered Women – Ethical Investments, is a two-month investment competition designed for female students, faculty, and staff of universities across Pakistan.

According to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the launch event in Karachi featured SECP Commissioner Imtiaz Haider, who emphasized the importance of financial awareness and informed investment decisions to enhance women’s roles in the financial sector. The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the AAOIFI Board of Trustees, alongside representatives from Islamic financial institutions.

Mr. Haider outlined SECP’s ongoing efforts to improve women’s access to finance. These include the approval of Khudmukhtar Khatoon, the country’s first digital financing product tailored exclusively for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as simplified account-opening procedures to encourage women’s entry into the capital market.

Women already play a significant role in the non-bank finance sector. As of June 30, 2026, they constituted 59 percent of active borrowers in the Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) sector and 82 percent in non-banking microfinance, which distributed Rs. 236.2 billion to women during the fiscal year 2025-26.

The Empowered Women – Ethical Investments initiative aims to provide participants with practical investment experience and financial education, enabling them to develop investment skills and make informed financial decisions responsibly.